When the designers at Explore Scientific set their sights on creating a top-quality apochromatic refractor that anyone would be proud to own, they decided on a traditional air-spaced triplet optical design in a rugged, adjustable lens cell. All materials had to be top-notch, so genuine Hoya extra-low dispersion (ED) Dense Fluor Crown (FCD1) glass was chosen, and then experienced craftsmen shaped and polished the elements that would form the foundation of a high-quality, true APO refractor.

All Explore Scientific Air-Spaced Triplet APO Refractors are diffraction-limited at .25PV or better. Special EMD™ enhanced multi-layer coatings are deposited on all optical surfaces, and the result is bright, high contrast images with virtually no light scatter. Interferometic data on your newly purchased and registered Explore apochromatic refractor is available upon request after 6 months of ownership.

While optics are definitely the most important component of any telescope, other features, like the focuser and the optical tube, play a crucial role in the design. Below you will find highlights on all of the ingredients used to create Explore Scientific Triplet APO refractors, including a very liberal warranty that speaks volumes about the confidence ES has in their telescopes!

Explore ED152 Air-Spaced Triplet Carbon Fiber Highlights...

The ED152 carbon fiber optical tube assembly is not only beautiful, it is strong and lightweight.

The 152mm is an Air-Spaced Apochromatic Triplet Refractor, with true APO optics

Contrast is further enhanced with the installation of matte black knife-edge baffles in the optical tube assembly.

While refractors seldom require additional collimation after initial factory adjustment, the lens cell design allows for consumer collimation. Sending your Explore ED127 off to the factory is always an option, but is not required.

The 152mm model comes with a special edition 3" rack & pinion dual-speed focuser, made for Explore Scientific by Starlight Instruments. A 2" compression ring adapter is included.

Included 2" diagonal has a precision-polished mirror with enhanced 99% dielectric coatings. A 1.25" compression ring adapter is part of this package.

The 152mm model comes with an 8x50 right-angle finderscope with illuminated polar reticle eyepiece. It provides a wide 6° field of view that is right-side up and left-to-right correct. Great for daytime or nighttime.

The 152mm telescope is supplied with a Losmandy style dovetail for attachment to mounts from Celestron, Losmandy, Meade, and more.

All Explore Scientific products come with a STAR Extended-Life-of-the-Product Warranty. Upon registration, this product will be under warranty for as long as it is manufactured, plus five years.

The Critical Element: Optics

Explore Scientific uses ED (Extra-low Dispersion) FCD1 (Dense Fluor Crown) glass developed and manufactured by Hoya Optical of Japan. Using the right glass with the appropriate properties enables the production of lenses that offer superior sharpness and color correction.

The optics used in Explore Scientific ED Air-Spaced Triplet refractors are truly diffraction-limited at .25PV or better. As a privilege of ownership, those who wish to obtain a copy of their interferometric data can request it up to 90 days after registration of their ED Triplet telescope by contacting the Explore Scientific Customer Service Department.

2" 99% Reflective Dielectric-Coated Diagonal

The purpose of a diagonal is to securely hold your eyepiece and to give you a comfortable viewing angle.

On pristine nights of steady seeing, Saturn's Rings can forever affect the hearts and minds of almost anyone who lays eyes on them. It's nights like these that astronomers like to set up their refractors and push the magnification to the limits, not only to see the magnificence of the planet at greater scale but to really test the optical and mechanical quality of the telescope.

Many telescopes are only supplied with a standard single-speed focuser, you will find that a tiny nudge will throw out focus and turn your night into one of frustration.

So ES included as standard equipment, on all Explore Scientific ED Series, a Dual-speed focuser with tension adjustment and lock to obtain and hold perfect focus. We think you'll agree that such precision is worth it.

Contrast is further enhanced by the installation of multiple baffles in the optical tube that mask and deflect unwanted stray light.

Explore STAR Warranty

For as long as Explore Scientific manufactures a product it is under warranty, no matter how many times it is sold or traded to another individual. And when Explore Scientific stops manufacturing a given model (referred to as the end of the Life of the Product), they will extend the warranty automatically for another five years.